Louisiana 5th most obese state

July 8, 2011 at 2:08 AM CDT - Updated August 27 at 12:06 AM

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) – Louisiana is the fifth most obese state in the country according to a new study by F as in Fat 2011. A statistic John Farr is no longer a part of. He stands 6'2" and was once 330 lbs. Now he weighs 100 lbs less. But he couldn't do it alone.

Farr had a procedure known as LAP-BAND surgery, he also changed his lifestyle.

"I was headed for a heart attack or a life altering stroke,' said Farr.

He says his doctor at Surgical Specialists asked him how long he wanted to live, his reply was to see his 4 year old twins graduate from high school.

"She said if I didn't get it under control I probably wouldn't live for five more years," said Farr. Farr was quickly becoming part of the fast growing trend of obese residents of Louisiana.

Since 1995 obesity has nearly doubled.In fifteen years Louisiana went from 17% rate of obesity, to 31.6 percent.